I have a confession to make. I have a really hard time writing about my life. I’ve been staring at this Google Doc for hours trying to decide which details to spare you, how much raw honesty you can handle, and where to draw the line because the truth is… what I want to tell you is ugly. But, I believe it’s important to hear.

While I may be a 6+ figure business owner, my starting point may be similar to where you are now, and I want you to know that you can do it, too. The raw truth is that I grew up in a crappy bluelight district in Baltimore, Maryland. We locals cleverly called it, “Bloodymore, Murderland.” My biological father was a drug addict. In fact, he overdosed in a McDonald’s bathroom (classy, I know). My step father was abusive, and to top it all off, my family was dirt poor.

Growing up, all of my energy went into school—my escape from home, my path to freedom. Yup, I was a Type A, INFJ, SUPER nerd collecting accolades, scholarships and Valedictorian status wherever I went. Being buried in books and homework was supposed to be my fast track to a better life, but all it gave me was a life without passion.

But, the Universe is nothing if not magical. If you haven’t experienced it yet, I have faith that you will.

The summer before I entered college, I was hit by an 80-something-year-old man driving a minivan at 50mph, while I was walking across the street. I almost died. I spent a week in shock trauma. Months learning to walk again. Years coping with PTSD.

While in recovery, I was raped. I became pregnant at 18.

I stayed in my dorm most days to avoid being the campus gossip which didn’t work.

I was at an ultimate low.

If you’ve ever felt like giving up on life or your dreams, then you know exactly how I felt. But, here’s why the Universe is so magical…

These hardships woke me up from my passionless life and taught me two things:

1. Life is short.

2. I am strong.

I survived child abuse, poverty, rape, teen pregnancy, bullying… I COULD DO THIS! On a mission to spread happiness in the world, I paid the bills so my mom could leave her abusive relationship. I graduated from the #12 university in the entire world with honors in three majors when many thought that was impossible. I left Baltimore and all its toxicity behind to start my life over. I created a six-figure business in four months at the age of 23, and I’ve helped many business owners to do the same.

With that story in mind, here are three simple steps for how to overcome any adversity to create the life you want:

Step #1. Believe that the Universe wants you to be happy. It will even send you signs to lead you down the path to the life you want. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” You may not understand in that moment how it is happening. Your turning point could be disguised as a traumatic car accident, like mine was, but I hope not! Make the decision today about what you want you want in your life, and then allow for it to happen.

Step #2. Remember that your hardships are not limitations, but they are reminders of your strength. Charles Swindoll said, “Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.” Once you’ve made that decision, know that challenges may arise, such as, lack of money, fear of failure, health mishaps or an unbalanced life. But, resilient action will always be your greatest weapon.

Step #3. Value every moment you have on this earth knowing that any moment it could be over. Carry that belief into the actions you take in your life and business. Ruth E. Renkl said, “You live longer once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted.” If anything in your business feels passionless or purposeless, stop it now. It’s not worth it. If your business is not aligning with your life, fix it. If you’re making money but you’re not happy, make a change. What’s the point in having a profitable business if you’re not living a happy LIFE?

Follow the three steps above. Make your decision. Be resilient. Keep it in perspective. And, I promise you will see the magic that happens in the Universe. If a young girl like me a girl who grew up with practically nothing can overcome adversity to create her dream life, then I know no matter what your circumstances, you can do it too.

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Amanda Goldman Petri is a Marketing Coach and total tech nerd renowned for how she built her six-figure business in four short months at the age of 23! Amanda has been featured on major media outlets such as ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, Small Business Trendsetters, Wall Street Select, and more for her work helping women entrepreneurs to create both financial freedom and happy lives. Her clients have reported doubling, tripling, quadrupling (and more) their incomes. Get access to Amanda’s free gift “7 Days & Nerdy Ways To Capture 1 Amazing New Client This Week!” here.